Miller's Crossing: Brains AND Bullets - Underrated Gem!

Alright everyone, MikeCinema back at ya. Just finished rewatching Miller's Crossing. Man, what a flick. I always forget how damn good it is. I know it's not exactly explosions and car chases, but the way those Coen brothers stage some of those scenes is straight up cinematic gold. And yeah, I had to peek at Wikipedia to remember who directed, haha. Gabriel Byrne as Tom Reagan? Ice freaking cold. You can practically feel the gears turning in his head as he tries to play both sides against each other. That scene in the woods when he's basically forced to kill Bernie Bernbaum (John Turturro, killing it as always) is brutal. The Coens aren't afraid to get messy. Speaking of which, those Thompson submachine guns spit pure lead! I'm a sucker for that classic gangster firepower. Plus, the bodyguards get taken out in style during the attempted hit on Leo (Albert Finney). Always appreciate a good Tommy gun ambush! What I dig most is the blend of hard-boiled crime with the Coen's quirky dialogue. You get lines like "Nobody knows anybody. Not that well," right before a bullet rips through someone. It's just...chefs kiss. It might be a bit slow for some folks lookin' for pure action, but if you appreciate smart storytelling, phenomenal acting, and a little bit of tastefully executed violence, give Miller's Crossing a shot. Honestly, I think it's still their most underrated film.